Spheroids (microtissues and organoids) are increasingly used as living “building blocks” in tissue engineering because their 3D organization can enhance cell–cell and cell–matrix interactions. A persistent bottleneck, however, is placement control: many workflows still struggle to position spheroids precisely after printing, and throughput can be limited when manual handling is required.
Two peer-reviewed papers in Biofabrication—published in August 2024 and January 2026—help clarify the direction the field is taking: Laser-Assisted Bioprinting combined with image-guided automation to reliably select and position spheroids, first to build high-density constructs, then to place spheroids into reinforced meshes.
1) 2024: precision transfer across spheroid sizes (LIFT + LIPMO) with image-guided automation
In a study performed in collaboration with KU Leuven (see Laser-assisted bioprinting of targeted cartilaginous spheroids for high density bottom-up tissue engineering, Nilsson Hall et al., 2024), we present laser-assisted bioprinting of cartilaginous spheroids generated from human periosteum-derived cells (hPDCs). The paper reports high viability after printing and the capacity for chondrogenic differentiation post-transfer.
A key technical point is that performance depends on spheroid size: the study uses LIFT (laser-induced forward transfer) for smaller spheroids (~100–150 µm) and introduces LIPMO (laser induced propulsion of mesoscopic objects) to enable transfer of larger spheroids (reported up to ~300 µm).
Crucially, the work emphasizes a “Pick and Place” logic using computer-aided image analysis to select spheroids and transfer them in sequence—supporting multilayer, high-density assemblies. This logic gives birth to the PickCellTM module which is now intergated into the NGB platform.
2) 2026: bringing targeted transfer into reinforced constructs (LIFT + MEW)
In a study performed in collaboration with Utrecht University (see Converging Laser-Induced Forward Transfer and Melt ElectroWriting for biofabrication of reinforced cartilage constructs, Vasilopoulou et al., 2026), we combine LIFT with melt electrowriting (MEW) to deposit articular cartilage progenitor cell (ACPC) spheroids into reinforcing meshes. We show how laser energy, spheroid size, and concentration influence outcomes such as fidelity, viability, and chondrogenic potential. We also report how using AI-based imaging analysis (plus reduced donor bioink) transfer of larger spheroids can be improved.
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References
Nilsson Hall, G. et al. (2024). Biofabrication 16(4). DOI: 10.1088/1758-5090/ad6e1a.
Vasilopoulou, A.G. et al. (2026, online 22 Jan). Biofabrication. DOI: 10.1088/1758-5090/ae3c43.